Elvira began working at Applied Biochemistry, DSIR (later Crop & Food Research), Lincoln, in 1985 as a research scientist, working on cell and tissue culture of onions, garlic and other Alliums. This work eventually progressed into establishing methods to genetically engineer onions, which became the topic of her PhD. Dr Dommisse was the first person in the world to publish on early steps involved in the genetic engineering of onions.

In 1993, Elvira left her position at Crop & Food because of concerns about the food and environmental safety of transgenic crops and a lack of job satisfaction. By this time, Crop & Food had already carried out a number of field trials of genetically engineered crops. There were very few controls in place with such field trials and at the time there was little concern about the lax attitudes of the scientists involved.

Subsequently, Dr Dommisse has completed a music degree and diploma. She is now a registered music teacher and a musician, playing as a casual player for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

Elvira and her husband Stephen, who works for Landcare Research, have two young children. She comes from a family of growers; her father professionally, her mother and four sisters having flourishing organic vegetable gardens; her brother-in-law a farm consultant for organic farming methods.

Dr Dommisse is a Trustee for PSRG and on the National Council of the Association of Soil & Health (Inc), NZ.